Edmonson Voice Report:Three individuals have been arrested on a multitude of felony charges after a drug complaint led to the discovery of active meth labs in Wingfield, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

In a press release, the Sheriff's Office said that an Edmonson County Sheriff’s Deputy and an officer from the Barren River Drug Task Force responded to the 3300-block of Wingfield Church Road in reference to a drug complaint. According to the Sheriff's Office, law enforcement made contact with Roger Conger (44), Brandon Hagan (30), and Faith Lindsey (23), and a probable cause search warrant was requested and granted for the residence.

The Sheriff's Office also reported that the search resulted in the discovery of multiple bags of suspected methamphetamine, along with a host of drug paraphernalia commonly used for the manufacturing of methamphetamine. The Wingfield Volunteer Fire Department was also called to the scene to assist in dismantling numerous active meth labs, the press release said.

Faith Lindsey, (23), Wingfield.

Brandon Hagan (30), Wingfield.

Roger Conger (44), Wingfield.

​Conger, Hagan, and Lindsey were all arrested on scene and charged with:

All three were transported and lodged in Hart County Jail.​"The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the assistance provided by the Barren River Drug Task Force, Wingfield Volunteer Fire Department, and Edmonson County Emergency Management," the press release stated.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson County's number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose again today with a total of 31 cases, which is four more from yesterday, according to the Barren River District Health Department.

The BRDHD also confirmed 500 cases of COVID-19 in the Barren River District, 109 of which have recovered, and seven total deaths reported from the district. Warren County saw another significant jump in their totals with 39 more than yesterday's, for a total of 319.

Area COVID-19 cases for April 29, 2020.

The four new cases in Edmonson County are not from Genesis Health, Edmonson Center, according to the facility. They reported no new positive cases with negative results returning for two more residents and five more staff members. They also reported 76 total residents at the facility, all of whom have reportedly been tested, with a total of 51 negative results. Nineteen of those residents and one staff member have tested positive for the virus. That leaves only 6 residents that are still waiting results, according to numbers provided by the facility.

The statewide COVID-19 cases reported today from the state website were 4,539 total cases, which is 164 more than yesterday's total. There were also five more deaths reported from the virus across the state.

While many locals are looking to return back to a more regular schedule, state and federal officials are still urging social distancing and asking individuals to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

There have been no coronavirus deaths reported in Edmonson County as of today and there have been 6 recovered cases.

Darren Doyle, story:Seven more COVID-19 cases were confirmed today, Monday, April 27th, in Edmonson County according to the Barren River District Health Department in a press release. It's the largest jump reported in one day so far, but could also mean that some of those occurred over the weekend.

That brings Edmonson County's confirmed virus total to 20 cases. Out of those 15, four have been reported recovered. We reached out to Edmonson Center Healthcare for an update at their facility but did not immediately receive a response.

Other numbers for the area are as follow:​

Governor Beshear reported 87 new cases today statewide for a total of 4,146 cases in KY. Of those cases, 1,521 have recovered and there were 5 new deaths reported today.

LOUISVILLE, KY -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District's Corps-managed campgrounds in Kentucky will remain closed through at least May 31 in the interest of public safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While an official date for the reopening of campgrounds and day use areas has not yet been determined, effective today all campground reservations will be cancelled for the month of May.​Individuals with paid reservations will be contacted by email and full refunds will automatically be processed by recreation.gov with no cancellation fees. Individuals should not attempt to contact Recreation.gov nor request a refund or a cancellation fee may be charged.

This affects all Corps-managed campgrounds at the following Louisville District Lakes in Kentucky: Green River Lake, Nolin River Lake, Barren River Lake, Rough River Lake, Buckhorn Lake and Carr Creek Lake.

Other USACE Lakes in the state of Kentucky are managed by the Nashville and Huntington Districts and may have different policies in place for the reopening of their campgrounds. Likewise, state-operated campgrounds at Corps Lakes have their own policies in place. We recommend the public contact the respective state agencies for the latest on their operating status. Of note, all campgrounds at USACE lakes in Indiana and Ohio are managed by state agencies.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this causes to our recreating community," said Tim Fudge, Louisville District Operations Division Chief. "I can assure you these decisions have not been made lightly, but have been made in the interest of public safety. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and contractors who manage these campground facilities is our highest priority. We appreciate the patience and understanding during these unprecedented times and look forward to welcoming everyone back as soon as it's safe to do so."

USACE reminds all visitors to follow these steps to recreate responsibly: honor the 6-foot social distance rule, stay away from parks and recreation areas if you are sick or have symptoms, keep parks clean by practicing "pack in and pack out" etiquette, and always wear a life jacket when near the water.

A determination has not yet been made for when campgrounds and recreational areas will reopen to the public. USACE Louisville District continues to assess the situation and is developing a phased reopening approach in alignment with current federal, state and CDC guidance. We will share those updates with the public as they become available.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson County Fiscal Court met today via virtual meeting for the second consecutive time. Today's agenda was a light one, much like the previous meeting's, as the court discussed only the necessary business for the county at this time.

All magistrates were present either via video conference or telephone, minus District 3, who has yet to fill the vacant position after the death of Clark Wood. The office will be appointed by the Governor's office, and there has been no word on when that will take place.

Judge Executive Wil Cannon explained to magistrates that county road funding will decrease overall due to lower gas taxes, statewide. The county will see nearly a $150K decrease in funding for county road maintenance and repair, which includes both state flex funding and county road aid.

Judge Cannon also announced a state grant that will allow the county to purchase a piece of property for parking on the square, which will become part of courthouse property. Cannon and magistrates agreed that parking was extremely limited in the area, especially during special events. The grant in the amount of $70,800, which was secured by the help of Representative Michael Meredith, will allow for the purchase of the property, located on Washington Street across from Limestone Bank, and for the excavation, paving, and striping of the lot, pending the county's contribution of $20,000 toward the project.

We asked Rep. Meredith for comments and he later issued the following statement:

“I noticed the need for additional parking around the courthouse on court days and when other events were happening on the square for quite some time," he said. " I discussed the issue with Judge Cannon early this year and working with his office, I submitted a formal request in the Judicial Branch budget for $70,000 to purchase and improve a lot near the courthouse to alleviate the parking issues. I’m proud that we were able to appropriate this funding in the budget and would like to thank House Speaker David Osborne as well as Appropriations and Revenue Chairman Steven Rudy and Judicial budget subcommittee chairman Jason Nemes for prioritizing my request.”

The court also:

Acknowledged BGWC March Shelter Directors Report.

Acknowledged March Dog Control CAD/Duty Status Report.

Approved AOC Court Facilities Local Government Reimbursement Form for Edmonson County Annex, FY20/21.

Approved AOC Court Facilities Local Government Reimbursement Form for Edmonson County Courthouse, FY20/21.

Approved IPAWS Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Application.

The next Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 11, 2020 and will also be a virtual video/audio meeting at 9AM. A few days prior, the Edmonson Voice will publish a notice for the meeting with the proper links to join.

In accordance with KRS 61.823, KRS 61.826, Executive Order 2020-243, OAG 20-05, 2020 Senate Bill 150 and the March 31 Attorney General Advisory, the Edmonson County Fiscal Court will meet in session at 9:00 a.m. on April 27, 2020 to consider the following Agenda.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson County's total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 13 today, according to the Barren River District Health Department.

Included in those numbers are now four confirmed cases at the Edmonson Center nursing home facility, as confirmed to the Edmonson Voice by a facility official today.

​The total numbers for the BRDH area today are 344 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 78 recovered cases, and 5 deaths.

​Local totals are as follows:

Governor Andy Beshear reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in Kentucky today with a total number 3,779, which includes a new total of 322 confirmed cases, the highest single jump in one day.

The statewide death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 200. Drive-thru testing is scheduled at South Warren High School Tuesday through Thursday next week.

Edmonson Voice Report:Three were killed and another is left in critical condition after a two car collision on I-65 in Hart County yesterday, according to Kentucky State Police.

Troopers responded to the crash near the 70 mile marker around 5:40pm, according to a press release where they said ​Dantarance Hobert, 38 years old of Indianapolis, IN, was operating a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado, traveling northbound on Interstate 65 when his vehicle struck the rear of a commercial vehicle. The commercial vehicle, a 2012 Volvo tractor-trailer combination, was being operated by Quojuan Youngblood, 36 years old of Merrillville, IN, and was also traveling northbound on I-65, KSP said.

According to KSP, Dantarance Hobert and a passenger in his vehicle, Ontaria Gilbert, 27 years old of Indianapolis, IN, were pronounced deceased at the scene. Two other passengers in Hobert's vehicle, Kenneth Lewis, 25 years old of Indianapolis, IN, and Dominique Qualls, 29 years old of Indianapolis, IN, were transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital and then to the University of Louisville Hospital where Kenneth Lewis was later pronounced deceased. Dominique Qualls is currently listed in critical condition. Troopers said that all occupants in Hobert's vehicle were unrestrained at the time of the collision.

Quojuan Youngblood and passenger, Marissa Trinidad, 33 years old of Gary, IN, were uninjured in the collision, KSP said.​The investigation is being conducted by Trooper Michael Waggener. He was assisted on the scene by Bonnieville, Munfordville, and Horse Cave Fire Departments, Hart County Sheriff's Office, Hart County Emergency Management, Hart County Coroner's Office and other KSP personnel.

Edmonson Voice Report:A trip to a scrap metal pile resulted in a crystal meth arrest for a Brownsville man, according to a press release from the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

The release said that around 4pm on Weds. April 22nd, a local business owner contacted the Sheriff's Office and said she witnessed a Mercury Grand Marquis with an attached trailer pull over next to a scrap metal pile on HWY 70 (Morgantown Rd.). The witness said the male driver took pieces of copper from the pile and the witness then took the license plate number, according to the Sheriff's Office. Authorities said the plate number belonged to a suspect of other thefts in Edmonson County and law enforcement later located the vehicle at the owner's residence.

According to the Sheriff's Office, contact was made with the driver, Joshua P. Guthrie, (35) of Brownsville, who matched the description provided by the witness of the alleged copper theft. After a probable cause search was performed, the Sheriff's Office said that one piece of the stolen copper was found inside the vehicle, along with a bag with suspected crystal methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.

Edmonson Voice Report:A Brownsville woman has been arrested and faces a felony drug possession charge after a traffic stop on Wednesday, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said that around 10:00 pm on Weds, April 22, 2020, an Edmonson County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle cross the center line three different times in less than a mile, while traveling southbound on KY Highway 259N.

Mildred T. Justice (46) of Brownsville

​A traffic stop was made on the vehicle, which was occupied by one female adult, one male adult, and a juvenile, according to the Sheriff's Office. A deputy reported that he saw the juvenile in possession of tobacco and electronic cigarettes. The deputy said during the search of the juvenile, suspected meth was found stashed in a cigarette pack in the juvenile's possession. The Sheriff's Office said they had probable cause to believe the meth was the property of the driver of the vehicle, who was Mildred T. Justice (46) of Brownsville.

The Barren River District Health Department has confirmed one more case today, April 22, 2020 for Edmonson County, which brings the total in-county cases to 9.

The BRDHD also confirmed 276 cases of COVID-19 in the Barren River District, 59 of which have recovered. They also said that as of today, there have been five deaths reported in the district as a result of coronavirus.

Other area county totals are as follow:

BARREN: 9

BUTLER: 71

HART: 3

LOGAN: 8

METCALFE: 0

SIMPSON: 8

WARREN: 156

In their press release today, the health department included a statement that read:

"In order to slow the spread of COVID-19, we must continue to follow recommendations provided by the CDC, the state, and Governor Andy Beshear. Practicing social distancing is the most important method for staying healthy. We urge Barren River residents to stay at home, and leave only for essential items such as groceries and medications. When possible, choose online ordering, delivery, and curbside pickup services to obtain these items."

Governor Beshear also announced new coronavirus drive-thru testing sites that will be available next week, including a location in Bowling Green. He said South Warren High School will be a testing site, which is located at 8140 Nashville Road, BG, 42101, Tuesday 4/28 - Thursday, 4/28 from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

He reported 3,373 total coronavirus cases statewide today, a number which includes 196 new cases. He also reported 14 new deaths from the virus for a total number of 185 lives lost so far in Kentucky.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson Center, Genesis Healthcare facility in Brownsville announced yesterday that one of their residents had tested positive for COVID-19. The Edmonson Voice reached out to local Head Administrator Chris Swihart for further questions regarding this incident and about the facility's plan moving forward.

We asked Swihart about the timeline in which Edmonson Center began implementing changes and asked him to describe the changes made.

​"We have been so stringent on visitation restrictions and other precautions across all of our centers," he said. "Not only following recommended protocols and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), but also often getting out in front of them."

Some of the steps he provided were as follows:

Screening residents and patients for symptoms - first daily and now three times daily

Actively screening and taking temperatures of all staff upon building entry

Requiring all staff to wear personal protective equipment

Visitation restrictions, except for exceptional circumstances, such as end-of-life situations

Cancellation of all outside medical appointments except for medically necessary and time-sensitive treatments, such as dialysis and chemotherapy

To make things easier for families, the facility has implemented the ability for families and loved ones to perform video conferencing calls using Zoom technology

For any centers where positive cases arise, the facility notifies patients, residents and families immediately, and update them daily via video conference calls

We also asked Mr. Swihart how worried should friends and family be with the condition of a resident now that a positive COVID-19 case has been confirmed inside the facility.

"I can assure you that we are working around the clock to keep our patients and residents healthy and as safe as possible," he said. "We are doing everything in our power – and everything medical experts know as of at this time – to protect our patients, residents and employees."

"For more than a month now, we have instituted visitation restrictions, except for exceptional circumstances such as end-of-life situations. To make things easier for families, we have implemented the ability for families and loved ones to perform video conferencing calls using Zoom technology. These restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future."

Yesterday's positive case at Edmonson Center brought the county total to 8 cases, 4 of which have been reported as recovered. There have been no deaths reported in Edmonson County as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Darren Doyle, story:Genesis Healthcare, Edmonson Center in Brownsville has confirmed one positive case of COVID-19 in a written statement to the Edmonson Voice. The confirmed case is a resident of the facility.

It is currently the 8th confirmed case of the virus in Edmonson County, according to the Barren River District Health Department. Four of those cases have been confirmed recovered and there have been no deaths reported in the county from COVID-19.

In a statement, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Richard Feifer said that Genesis Healthcare has been stringent on visitation restrictions and has taken other precautions.

"As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began providing protocols and guidelines for the coronavirus, Edmonson Center has diligently followed them and in many cases, has gotten out in front of public health guidelines, adopting even more stringent infection precautions than were recommended at the time," he said. "We also continue to follow to the letter the direction of the Kentucky Department of Health in an effort to contain and minimize the spread of the virus. To date, the total number of positive cases at Edmonson Center is one positive resident."

The facility has had a no-visitor policy for over a month, according to one employee, and even vendors and other business-related contact has been limited.

"I can assure you that we are working round the clock to keep our patients and residents healthy and as safe as possible," said Dr. Feifer. "We are doing everything in our power – and everything medical experts know as of at this time – to protect our patients, residents and employees."

There have been a total of 248 total COVID-19 cases confirmed in the BRDHD area, 58 of which have recovered. There have been 5 deaths reported from the virus in this area.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson County Superintendent of Schools Patrick Waddell has officially announced that in-person school has been cancelled for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

Waddell said the announcement comes after a recommendation from Governor Andy Beshear in a phone call earlier today.

"Upon recommendation from the Governor, there will be no more in-person school for the remainder of the year," he said. "We will continue our NTI work as we've done for the last few weeks."

Waddell also said the last day for student NTI work will be Wednesday, May 13th.

"This will allow our school staff to collect, grade, and post the final grades for the school year by our original date for the last day, which was May 22nd. Hopefully all final grades will be posted by then, or sometime very close."

He said Governor Beshear recommended drive-by or virtual graduation ceremonies for any school that wished to have them at the normal, end-of-May time period; however, Waddell said ECHS will hold out to have an in-person ceremony later in the summer.

"Every administrator in our school system is in favor of having a traditional, in-person graduation ceremony, and that will require us to have it later in the year. It might be late June or July, or maybe even right before school starts next year, but that's what we're hoping for. The Governor didn't say we couldn't do that, he just said we can't do that under the guidelines that are currently being exercised right now."

He did add that any graduation planning at the present time would only be speculation.

Waddell said that all schools are still collecting NTI work, both electronically and in physical paper form.

"We have a 24-hour drop off near all school offices for anyone that needs to physically turn in work. We also want to add that work can be dropped off at any school, even if it's not the one your child attends. We just ask that you clearly label the work with the student's name and the school so we can make sure it ends up in the right place."

Supt. Waddell said that new NTI work will be going out soon and for anyone that cannot receive it electronically, they can call the school and arrangements will be made for work to be delivered or picked up.

"We are happy to work with anyone however we can to make this as smooth as possible."

He also said the ECHS Principal Brian Alexander will be sending out additional information for seniors later in the week.

This is Waddell's final year as Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools, and this is certainly not how he'd planned to retire.

"This isn't what any of us expected and it's been frustrating," he said. "When we first discussed closing schools, we all thought it would be for a couple weeks. Who'd have thought that over a month ago when I saw students get on the bus that it would be the last for the school year. But this has affected all of us and I think everyone understands. At least now, with guidance from the President and from state levels, we have a better understanding of how to achieve some sort of normalcy, and hopefully soon. I know some like school being closed, others don't, but things are much different now and we all have to continue working together."

Edmonson Voice Report:Taylor Dooley, a sophomore at Edmonson County High School, has been accepted into Western Kentucky University's Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science for the class of 2022.

Applicants were evaluated based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards, extracurricular activities, responses to essay and short answer questions, and letters of recommendation. In addition to these criteria, earlier this month, 189 candidates were invited to interview with WKU faculty members, community leaders from across the Commonwealth, and Gatton Academy alumni.

The selected students scored an average composite of 30.58 on the ACT and 30.23 on the mathematics portion of the exam. The highest possible score is a 36.

“What a pleasure it is to welcome the 2022 class of The Gatton Academy,” stated Dr. Julia Roberts, Executive Director of The Gatton Academy and Mahurin Professor of Gifted Education. “These young people represent Kentucky geographically as well as in other characteristics, carrying out the goal of The Gatton Academy to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and develop as future leaders for the Commonwealth.”

Students will complete their junior and senior years of high school living in Florence Schneider Hall. At the end of their two-year course of study, students will graduate from high school with a minimum of 60 college credit hours.

Taylor is the daughter of Jason and Jennifer Dooley of Chalybeate. Her older brother, Gavin Dooley, will graduate from Gatton Academy and ECHS in 2020, where he was named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

She will also join ECHS student Ava Kate Lich, who was accepted into the program last year. Mackenzie Daniels, 2017 valedictorian of ECHS, was also a recent Gatton Academy student.

Edmonson Voice Report:A Bee Spring man faces multiple felony charges, including two drug trafficking counts after an arrest on Friday, April 17th, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

In a press release, the Sheriff's Office said that law enforcement received a complaint call about a possible intoxicated driver leaving the Bee Spring community on Friday. According to the release, a deputy located a truck, a 1996 GMC Sierra pickup, and attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle, which matched the truck's description.

The driver allegedly refused to stop and continued for about a mile until the truck stopped at a residence, where deputies then identified the driver as Ryan A. Minton, (31), of Bee Spring, and detained him.

The Sheriff's Office also said a K9 officer was utilized and indicated the presence of illicit substances in the vehicle. A search was then performed and a white, crystalline substance, along with suspected controlled medications, were located in the vehicle, according to the Sheriff's Office. Minton was arrested and charged with:

Ryan Minton, (31), Bee Spring.

Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st deg. (methamphetamine)

Trafficking in Controlled Substance 1st deg. (drug unspecified)

Fleeing or Evading Police 2nd deg.

Possession of Marijuana

​Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Tampering with Physical Evidence

He was transported to the Hart County Jail, where he's being held on a $5,000 cash bond.

Darren Doyle, story:The 2020 U.S. Census got underway with this year's initiative at the first of the year, and while the agency had hoped for the biggest response ever, the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed their operation, and that certainly includes the numbers in Edmonson County.

With only 40.8% response in Edmonson County, census workers are hoping for more participation, especially since the dates and deadlines have been moved around as a result of the pandemic.

With billions of federal aid at stake, the federal government decides what money goes where according to numbers administered by the U.S. Census Bureau. That's why it's crucial for all Edmonson County households to participate in the census with accurate information--and, it's never been easier to complete the survey. It's free, it's safe, and it's easy. SIMPLY CLICK HERE.

​The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation, inform hundreds of billions in federal funding every year, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.

The results of this once-a-decade count determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives. They are also used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Over the next decade, lawmakers, business owners, and many others will use 2020 Census data to make critical decisions. The results will show where communities need new schools, new clinics, new roads, and more services for families, older adults, and children.

The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.

Responses will continue through October 31, 2020, but it's important for all county residents to participate as soon as possible for the most accurate count.

The process is super easy and only takes a few minutes but if you need any further assistance or have any questions, you can click here for help.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:Two different men were arrested on felony drug charges in separate incidents on Easter Sunday, ​according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

The first incident took place around 7:30am, the Sheriff's Office said, when deputies were dispatched to South Union General Baptist Church on Sunfish Road after Grayson County deputies responded to a collision that had actually taken place about 100 yards into Edmonson County.

According to a press release, Grayson County deputies had already determined that the driver, who was identified as Rodney L. Howell (41) of Brownsville, was under the influence of alcohol. While Edmonson County deputies administered field sobriety tests, Howell was also allegedly found to be in possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested and charged with:

Later that evening, around 6:00 pm, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person in the driveway of a residence on Louisville Road, where the caller said the male subject wouldn't leave. Deputies said when they arrived, the man was wandering around the property and around the door of the residence.

The man was identified as Victor Lee Constant (38) of Smiths Grove and law enforcement said they detected the strong odor of alcohol in addition to seeing a white powdery substance which was believed to be methamphetamine on Constant’s person. A search of Constant’s vehicle resulted in the deputy finding suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, cash, and drug paraphernalia, according to a press release.Constant was arrested and charged with:

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:Edmonson County Circuit Clerk Tanya Hodges has announced some late changes from the office of the Kentucky Supreme Court that will affect the latest panel of jurors in Edmonson County.

Hodges said that recently, county jurors received documentation with instructions to appear on May 22, 2020; however, the latest correspondence from the supreme court will cause that date to change and unfortunately, local jurors will not receive any new instructions from the state court system regarding this change.

The Kentucky Supreme Court has cancelled all non-emergency hearings until after May 31, 2020, and according to Hodges, Judge Tim Coleman has instructed the new orientation date for local jurors is now set for June 5, 2020 at 9AM.

Any further questions or concerns can be directed to the Edmonson County Circuit Clerk's Office at 270-597-2584.

Darren Dennison's Road To Recovery After Severe Illness: "It Is A Miracle From God"

Darren Dennison and his wife Angela wave to a crowd gathered outside their home today after he recovered from COVID-19.

**Editor's Note: This story contains content about God, faith, answered prayer, and KJV Bible verses. If you don't like these things you might want to stop reading now.**

Darren Doyle, story and photos:Darren Dennison and his wife Angela returned home to their Chalybeate residence today after Darren's 19-day hospital stay in a fierce battle with COVID-19. When asked about the emotional ride that her family has taken over the past two and a half weeks, she simply said, "It is a miracle from God. That's what I can tell you."

They were met with more than a dozen cars lining the street with balloons tied to mailboxes and trash cans as the Dennisons made their way through their subdivision. The ones in their cars honked their horns, others waved, some cried tears of joy, and one lady said "thank you, Lord."

We spoke with Angela this afternoon as Darren tried to catch up on some sleep.

"You won't find a bigger germ-a-phobe than Darren," she said with a laugh. "He's always been careful and about three weeks or so ago he had some allergies and a cough. Knowing this virus was starting to go around, he went to the doctor but no one thought he had the virus. He just kept getting sicker and went back to the doctor and that's when they wanted to admit him--not for COVID--but for fluids. Because he was in the ER, he had to be tested, but the doctors still didn't think it was COVID. They went ahead and admitted him and as it turned out, he was on a ventilator before he even got his positive test result."​

Daughters Breanna and Karina Dennison with welcome home signs.

Darren and Anglea wave to the crowd of friends and family gathered on their street today.

​She said her husband was very calm and confident as he went into the hospital. She said he knew it was the right thing to do and that he comforted her and his two teenage daughters, Breanna and Karina, both students at Edmonson County High School. The next 10 days would be crucial for Darren's life as he spent them on a ventilator, completely separated from his family.

"It was such a roller coaster," she said. As she continued the conversation, her voice began to tremble.

"It was one Saturday morning and the Lord let me pray. I just hadn't fully turned it over to Him yet, but I did that morning. I knew that once I put it all in His hands, I knew it would be okay. I had such a peace. I didn't know when, but I I knew things were going to be alright."

Darren's parents, Darwin and Rochella Dennison at today's homecoming.

There were slight improvements, slight setbacks, but the biggest turn came after a bad night. It was the same Saturday, April 5th that she had received peace from her prayer but that night was anything but peaceful for Darren.

​"He had been on a ventilator for a week and he just got worse. He was critical. The only thing I knew to do was put out a plea for prayer."

She sent messages to her church family (Pleasant Union United Baptist) and other area churches, family, friends, and anyone she could think of that could offer a prayer on their behalf on the following day, which was Sunday, April 6th. She posted on her Facebook page the plea and quoted Mark 11: 23,24 KJV: "23-For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24-Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

"I could feel people praying. By the end of the night he had turned around. We didn't even know how to process it. He continued to improve and by Thursday he was off the ventilator and he came home today."

While Darren was all smiles underneath his mask (you could see it in his eyes) he was unable to speak with us; however, Angela said he was thankful, humbled, and that he will speak for himself once he gets a little stronger. He will begin a new two-week quarantine to ensure the virus has completely run it's course and there is absolutely no further risk of contagion. He is in a recliner at home while Angela will sleep in another room. His daughters will be staying with other family during the quarantine.

It will still be a while before he returns to work as the Superintendent of the Leitchfield Water Plant, where he is in charge of an award-winning operation. Dennison is highly respected not only in his profession, but as an all-around person. Angela said he had already put safety measures in place at the plant far before they were required from the coronavirus pandemic.

The family as they left the hospital today.

The family was sent off today by about 25 Medical Center nurses, doctors, and staff members.

"I can't say enough about about the medical and nursing staff we had. They put themselves at risk for my husband. They were very patient and understanding with me. They were just so good. I told them today, I thank God first, and you second."

The conversation ended with plenty of tears (of joy) and somewhat of a sigh of relief.

"You try to understand things. Why things happen. But I believe sometimes God just tests our faith. He wants to show us what He can do. When we turn things over to Him, He does the rest. He performed a miracle and we can never repay everyone for their prayers or thank them enough. We are just so blessed, so thankful, and so humbled."

Darren Doyle, story:One more COVID-19 case was confirmed in Edmonson County yesterday, which was patient number 7; however, Brownsville resident Patrick Merritt, CEO of A Plus Family Healthcare, found out that he was, in fact, patient number 7 on Saturday. He told family members and a few friends, but the news spread faster than the virus itself. He then chose to make his Facebook friends aware by making a post about his confirmation on his page later that day.

Patrick spoke to the Edmonson Voice today about his diagnosis so that our readers could hear directly from a patient and see just how contagious the coronavirus is.

"First of all, I feel fine," he said. "My symptoms weren't the standard symptoms that you're hearing the professionals discuss."

Patrick said on April 5th, he began experiencing allergy-related symptoms like many have this time of year.

"It was the normal stuff, just a little congestion and that was normal for me this time of year. I had no fever, no cough, and I felt great with no issues. Those symptoms stayed exactly the same for three days. Then, one evening I suddenly lost my sense of taste. I couldn't tell the difference between a banana and a french fry. I knew that loss of taste and smell could also be a symptom of coronavirus and I knew that I'd possibly been exposed to someone that had already tested positive, so I sprayed some cologne on my shirt and put it directly on my nose. When I couldn't smell that at all I knew I had to get tested."

He said he was tested on Thursday the 9th and was notified on Saturday morning the 11th that he had tested positive for COVID-19, making him Edmonson County's number 7 patient. Merritt said he had stayed inside with his family and had only gone out a couple times. He said contact with others beside his family was minimal, even non-existent.

He also said that he felt good enough to mow 4 acres on Saturday, the same day he was diagnosed as a positive case. The only major difference was that he was really fatigued that evening and slept a long time that night into Sunday.

"I still don't really feel bad. There are a couple reasons why this causes fear in people; one--it's the unknown. Why do some people become really sick and others don't even show the major symptoms? Who knows? This virus is crazy. The other thing is, this virus is so contagious...you can carry it and not know you have it. That's why when the CDC keeps telling us to stay away from each other, we need to do it. I'm 32 years old and in decent shape and I feel like I'll bounce back pretty quick, like I said, I feel fine, but it's the 70 or 80 year-old grandma that I could pass it to and not know it. She might not be able to bounce back, and for that reason, we need to limit our contact with others in a very serious way."

He also said he will remain quarantined until his two weeks are completed, then his family members must do the same.

"Please stay home. You could be carrying the virus with little or no symptoms. I'm ok, but others may not be," he said. "Thanks to everyone that's checked up on me, but I still don't really feel any different. I just hope we all can work together so that this thing will move on."

Darren Doyle, story:A single-vehicle accident has claimed the life of a Brownsville man, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

A sheriff's deputy said law enforcement responded to HWY 259N, just south of Kyrock Elementary to a report of a single-vehicle rollover accident on Monday, April 13th around 9am.

According to reports, a 1998 Ford Ranger driven by Jimmy Vincent (71) of Brownsville, crossed the yellow line, over-corrected, and left the right hand side of the roadway. The sheriff's office said the vehicle rolled over twice and came to rest upright off the shoulder of the road in a grassy area.

Vincent was transported to the Medical Center in Bowling Green via Edmonson EMS where he later to succumbed to his injuries. Law enforcement said he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Also assisting at the scene were the Kyrock and Brownsville Fire Departments and Edmonson County JAWS.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:A home was destroyed by fire early this morning where three residents were injured, according to firefighters.

Emergency personnel were paged to 362 Caneyville Road (HWY 185) shortly after 5AM this morning. Firefighters said that the structure was fully involved upon their arrival. Radio traffic indicated that at least three individuals inside were able to go to a neighbor's home where Edmonson EMS responded.

A firefighter works at the scene of a house fire just after dawn.

Firefighters at the scene of a house fire on Caneyville Rd.

According to Bear Creek Fire Chief J.T. Carroll, two of the individuals were air lifted to the hospital and one was transported to the hospital via ambulance. Another firefighter on scene reported one of the individuals air lifted was a teen juvenile who had suffered second and third degree burns. Their conditions were not immediately known.

Only a shell remains of a home after a fire on Caneyville Rd.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. In addition to Bear Creek Fire Department and Edmonson EMS, also responding to the blaze were the Kyrock, Brownsville, and Lincoln Fire Departments, Edmonson County Emergency Management, and WRECC.

Darren Doyle, story:Edmonson County has one new confirmed case of COVID-19 today, according to The Barren River District Health Department.

They also confirmed 128 total cases of COVID-19 in the Barren River District, 31 of which have recovered. Barren County has six, Butler County has 43, Edmonson County has seven, Hart has one, Logan County has seven, Simpson County has 16, and Warren County has 48. The district also reported a total of two deaths from COVID-19.

Butler County reportedly saw a spike in cases due to an outbreak in a local nursing home there.

It was a somber Easter Sunday in Edmonson County with many residents absent from local Easter church services for the first time ever. There were no reports of in-person services in Edmonson County yesterday; however, some churches streamed services and other events while others had drive-in services. Although the county is very traditional in worship practices in general, several churches are trying to find new ways for congregations to worship together.

Today, Governor Andy Beshear reported 2048 total coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 87 of those cases are new. He also reported 629 recoveries from the virus. There were also 7 new deaths reported in the Commonwealth today for a total of 104 deaths statewide.

Health officials are still holding to the same guidelines that have recommended for the past two weeks; the main one being stay at home unless you need groceries or medicine. Hand washing and using hand sanitizer are also extremely important while using social distancing, which is staying at least 6 feet from others while outside the home.